Probably has more to do with the fact that these underground parties don't have permits (i.e. not paying their royalties to the city) and are selling booze that they aren't collecting taxes on (i.e. not paying their royalties to the city)

dj_bigbird:Probably has more to do with the fact that these underground parties don't have permits (i.e. not paying their royalties to the city) and are selling booze that they aren't collecting taxes on (i.e. not paying their royalties to the city)

So you're saying it has nothing to do with the appearance of shutter-shades, skinny jeans, recycled 80's fashion and fixed-gear bikes?

The worst are shiny black shoes with shoelaces in them. The hierarchy ascends from there, although practically all lowcut shoes are unhip, from there on up to the boots the heads like, light, fanciful boots. English boots of the mod variety, if that is all they can get, but better something like hand-tooled Mexican boots with Caliente Dude Triple A toes on them.

bronyaur1:Because it is simply not possible for whiny 20somethings to actually get the permits required and comply with the law, right?

It has less to do with that and more to do with the fact that music venues in the city are closing down or becoming less than receptive to anything edgier than "Train."

This was the niche which The Rat filled. Night after night in Kenmore Square bands would line up to play assembly-line style. If you could put together a demo and make a few phone calls then the odds were you could end up on that stage. The Middle East took a little more work but it could be done with some time and effort. Same with Local 186.

If you shut down places for punk bands to play they're going to be resourceful and put it together on their own. Worcester has a decently thriving scene. Even Springfield has something. But in Boston the real estate got too expensive so the places closed. In any other city that might not be a big issue. But were talking about a city that has more colleges per square mile than any other place in the world.

I would have hoped the BPD could have recognized this but apparently not.

Boston is a shiat city for seeing live music. Bars have closed down and been turned into discos. Other venues get bought up and turned into high-end coffee bars or hotels. There's nothing to complain about; the ship set sail a decade ago.

Kind of reminds me of the seventies. Lots of parties were spread word of mouth. I remember getting close to the place along Sunset Cliffs, popping out the eight track, and then rolling down the windows so we could listen to home in on it. It was kind of standard procedure in those days.

One of my friends has been doing DIY basement shows for a couple years (local/regional/national punk & metal) and has never had a problem. He always notifies the neighbors a week before the show to see if they have any issues with it, none ever have. Live music ends by Midnight. Everyone's always been respectful of his and his neighbors houses, belongings, and yards. Cops here have always ignored it. Granted Utica is no Boston.